KANGAROOS playmaker Jaden Kelly is set to return to Group 20 club Tullibigeal-Lakes United (TLU) for the upcoming season.
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After just one season back at Roos, Kelly has shelved talk of retirement to sign with the Sharks.
TLU coach James Williams said the signings of Kelly and Jaden Clarke were a huge confidence builder for the season ahead.
“It’s massive for the town and the club,” Williams said.
“Jaden (Clarke) has filled out to a lock or second row. Jaden (Kelly) is one of the best halves going around and he’ll play alongside me in the halves.
“You don’t have to do much coaching with them, just let them do their own thing and let them play what’s in front of them.”
Many believed Kelly had called time on his career but Williams said the half couldn’t help but go around for another season.
“He was thinking about hanging up the boots with the year he had,” Williams said.
“The year with the Roos didn’t go to plan and he also played a game with Lakes Tigers and broke his cheekbone – when that happened, he thought that was it.
“But it’s in his blood – the football and the town – he won’t live at Lakes without giving something back.”
Clarke’s return is also significant after he left Lake Cargelligo as a teenager to pursue an NRL career with Cronulla Sharks and now returns as a 23-year-old.
“A lot of the blokes look up to Jaden (Clarke), especially with what he achieved in that little bit of time he had in Sydney ” Williams said.
“When he’s playing to his potential, he’s going to be hard to stop.”
Adding even more to TLU’s experience is the return of 2008 Group 20 player of the year Nathan Morris, after a shoulder reconstruction.
Williams said Morris will be as keen as ever after watching TLU’s grand final heroics last year.
“He’s fit and ready to go,” Williams said.
“He’s a bloke who would have found it hard to watch from the sidelines last year after we went on to win the premiership when everyone expected us to finish outside the five.”
TLU’s first test for 2017 is the West Wyalong Knockout.
“Everything is looking awesome,” Williams said.
“We’re going over there with a full strength squad and we’re going there to get something out of it.”
